Printing and punching machine



Nov. 8, 1966 G. RITZERFELD 3,283,701

PRINTING AND PUNCHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 50, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 In ntor:

Nov. 8, 1966 G. RITZERFELD PRINTING AND PUNCHING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 30, 1964 Nov. 8, 1966 G. RITZERFELD 3,283,701

PRINTING AND PUNCHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 InCvZntor:

1966 s. RITZERFELD 3,283,701

PRINTING AND PUNCHING MACHINE I Inventor:

Nov. 8, 1966 G. RITZERFELD 3,283,701

PRINTING AND PUNCHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 F ig,5

Fig.6

Inventor:

Nov. 8, 1966 G. RITZERFELD 3,283,701

PRINTING AND PUNCHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Fig. 9

In ventar:

Nov. 8, 1966 s. RITZERFELD PRINTING AND PUNCHING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 8:

Filed Nov. 30, 1964 In vent'ar:

United States Patent Office 3,283,701 Patented Nov. 8, 1966 3,283,701 PRINTING AND PUNCHING MACHINE Gerhard Ritzerfeld, Franzensbader Strasse 21, Berlin-Grunewald, Germany Filed Nov. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 414,910 Claims priority, application Germany, Nov. 29, 1963, R 36,677 20 Claims. (Cl. 101-91) The present invention relates to a printing and punching machine, and more particularly to a rotary duplicator which is capable of printing selected lines or sections of a printing form on a copy sheet or card, and to punch the card in such a manner that the punched holes represent the same information which appears in the form of legible imprints on the card.

In rotary duplicators according to the prior art, copy sheets or cards having imprints of selected sections of the printing form are produced. The information printed on the cards has to be punched into the card by an operator which reads the information and punches corresponding areas in the card. A third operation is required for checking whether the holes were punched correctly.

It is one object of the invention to overcome this disadvantage of printed and punched cards according to the prior art, and to provide a machine capable of printing and punching a copy sheet or card in a continuous operation.

Another object of the invention is to eliminate human error by automatically printing and punching the cards so that the printed text and the punched holes represent the same information.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic printing and punching machine which vary rapidly produces printed and punch cards.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the cost of printed and punched cards.

With these objects in view, the present invention relates to a machine which is capable of printing and punching a copy sheet, which may have the form of a card. One embodiment of the invention comprises printing means including a movable printing member, such as a rotary printing drum, having holding means for-holding a form which has a first printing part with printable characters and a second part with symbols representing the same information as the printable characters. The printing member is movable with the form for moving the first part of the form to a position in contact with a copy sheet in the form of a card for producing legible imprints thereon. Sensing means are provided for sensing the symbols on the second part of the form and produce impulses when sensing different symbols which advantageously are composed of code elements. Recording means in the form of punches and punch control mag- .nets are controlled by the impulses of the sensing means to punch the copy sheet so that the punched holes in the card represent the same information as the legible imprints on the card produced by the first part of the form on the printing member.

The symbols of the second part of the form may also be provided on the back of the form, or on a separate form and may be suitable for mechanical, electrical, optical or magnetic sensing. The printing and punching of the card is successively carried out in an automatic operation in which the cards first pass the printing member with the form, and then pass through a punching device which is controlled by storage relays in which the necessary information was stored by impulses produced by the sensing means.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the card is transported from the printing position to a punching position and is there stopped during the punching of the necessary holes. The selective printing of lines of the printing part of the form is accomplished by moving a counterpressure roller under the control of cams to and from a printing position cooperating with the printing member and the printing part of the form. Synchronizing means rotate together with the printing member and control the storage devices of the punching means in accordance with the line positions of the symbols on the second part of the form.

The punching of the cards is carried out in synchronism with the rotation of the printing member after the printing of the card has been completed, and the card is preferably stopped in two successive punching positions.

In the first punching position, a preliminary hole is punched in the card, and in the second punching position the shape of the hole is completed, for example a notch is made at the edge of a card which is punched in a marginal area. In this manner, it is not necessary to use prepunched cards, but the card can be accurately punched while running through the machine, and smooth inexpensive cards can be used.

The printed and punched card is preferably delivered by a turnable plate to a conveyor which transports the cards from the rear of the machine to the front where the operator is stationed.

The machine is preferably provided with manually operated means which make it possible to enter into the storage relays controlling the punched magnets, additional information causing the punching of additional holes representing numbers or letters. The punched cards will then have additional holes in selected positions, which are not represented by the symbols in the second part of the form.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a printing and punching machine according to the present invention with one wall omitted, the machine being partly shown in cross section;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation, partially in section, illustrating the machine of FIG. 1 but showing the punching device;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a detail of the punching device on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 illustrates the form of the present invention including a printing part and a part having symbols controlling the punching operations;

FIGv 5 is a copy sheet printed by the entire printing part of the form shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a card printed and punched in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is partly a perspective view, and partly an electric diagram illustrating the control of storage devices by impulses produced 'by sensing means;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view illustrating a detail of FIG. 7 on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the electric circuit of a. storage relay for the punch control magnets;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the electric circuit of manually controlled means for punched control magnets; and

FIG. 11 is partly a schematic perspective view of several electrically controlled parts of the machine, and partly a diagram illustrating the circuit connecting these parts.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a rotary printing machine whose basic construction corresponds to the printing machine disclosed in our US. Patent 2,868,116, issued January 13, 1959, and consequently well known features of the older machine will not be described in detail.

A printing member, shown to be a printing drum 1 supports on the periphery thereof a printing form which includes a first part with printable faces in mirror script, and a second part shown on the right of FIG. 4 with coded symbols rep-resenting the same information as the printable faces on the first part of the printing form which is shown on the left of FIG. 4, as will be explained hereinafter in greater detail.

Printing member 1 with printing form 2 is rotated in the direction of the anrow in FIGS. 1 and 2 by a motor,

not shown through a suitable belt transmission.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the printing member 1 in an initial position. A counterpressure roller 8 is mounted by a lever means 35 on a stationary shaft 7 and can be moved between an inoperative position spaced from printing member 1 and a printing position cooperating with the same along a printing line located in a printing plane AB. Counterpressure roller 8 is operated between the inoperative and printing positions by a toggle lever means 36, 37 which is operated by a forked lever 34 engaging a pin on cam follower lever means 29, 30 mounted for turning movement on a shaft 31 and having roller means 32, 33 cooperating with cam discs mounted on a shaft 9. A gear 10 secured to printing member 1 for rotation therewith drives an intermediate gear 11 meshing with a gear 12 secured to shaft 9 so that the same and cams 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 rotate in synchronism with printing member 1.

The cams have angularly spaced dwells which are arranged in relation to the printing form 2 so that each cam effects a movement of counterpressuire roller 8 to the printing position when a correlated line or section of printing form 2 passes through the printing plane A-B. Cam 13 controls the printing of the head section of the printing form, cams 14 and 15 permit the printing of longer head sections, cam 16 has a dwell permitting the printing of the entire text of the printing form, and a plurality of cams 17 have comparatively narrow dwells in circumferential direction permitting the printing of a single selected line, the selection of the line of the printing form depending on the angular position of the dwell of the respective line selecting cam 17.

While the cams are connected to shaft 9 for rotation, they can be shifted in axial direction so that different cams cooperate with cam follower means 32, 33, while other cams are not sensed by the cam follower means, and have no effect on the selection of the printed lines.

An automatic stepping mechanism 18 to 23 is provided for turning the line cam. 17 one step after each revolution of printing member 1 whereby successive lines of the printing form are separately printed on successive copy sheets, together with a head portion which is printed on each copy sheet under the control of cam 13. The stepping mechanism includes two pawls 18 and 19, a pulley 20, a ratchet Wheel 21 operated by pawls 18 and 19, a spring 22 acting on pawl 18, and a spring .23 acting on pawl 19. Pulley is connected by a chain 25 to another pulley 26 on shaft 3 of printing member 1 so that the stepping mechanism is operated in synchronism with the synchronizing control member 24 which will be described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 7. During each revolution of printing member 1, cam 17 rotates in synchronism therewith, and is only shifted at the end of a revolution to be ready for the printing of another line of the first part of the printing form shown on the left of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 shows a copy sheet on which one line of the text of the printing form of FIG. 4 was printed together with a head portion shown as the 4 uppermost line in FIG. 4, and indicated by reference numeral 116 in FIG. 6.

The automatic step of cam 17 is effected by a roller 27 operated by an electromagnet 28 which shifts roller 27 into the path of movement of pawl 19 so that the stepping mechanism is actuated. Electromagnet 28 is energized by operation of a manually controlled switch, not shown. When a pawl is operated by roller 27, cam 17 turns angilarly in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation for printing another line of the printing form 2. By providing cams having dwells corresponding to two or three lines, several lines can be simultaneously printed on a copy sheet, and another group of lines can be printed on the next following copy sheet.

The cams operate the counterpressure roller as explained above, so that a line, or several lines of the printing form are printed on a copy sheet located between printing member 1 and counterpressure roller 8. When counterpressure roller 8 is in its inoperative position spaced from the printing member 1, a holding means 8a holds a copy sheet located in the printing plane so that undesired lines of the printing form 2 move through the printing line while the copy sheet is at a standstill whereby the next selected line of the printing form is printed on the copy sheet adjacent the preceding selected line when counterpressure roller 8 is again moved to its printing position.

A copy sheet 39, which may be a stiff card as shown in FIG. 6 is supplied to a pair of transporting rollers 40, 41, and passes a moistening means 40aso as to receive an imprint from a hectographic printing form 2.

A rod 43, which may be manually operated, or shifted by electromagnet means, not shown, turns a triangular lever 45 about a shaft 44 so that another lever 47 connected to lever 45 by a pin 46 is shifted. Pin 48 connects lever 47 with a lever arm 49 which has a spiral groove 50 cooperating with a pin 52 of a shifting fork 51 so that the cams 14 and 15 can be shifted in axial direction into engagement with cam follower roller 32. The above described cards of the machine are not an object of the present invention, and disclose in detail in the US. Patent 2,868,116.

A sensing means 6 is provided for sensing the symbols on the right hand part of the printing form 2 as viewed in FIG. 4. Printing member 1 has a recess in which a stamping device as disclosed in our US. Patent 2,796,- 828 is mounted. The wheels of the stamping device are adapted to print certain information on each copy sheet 39 as shown at 141 in FIG. 6.

An endless conveyor 56 receives each printed copy sheet 39 and transports the same to a punching device 57. A stripper 55 separates the copy sheet from the printing form and a guide member 126 guides the copy sheet onto conveyor 56. The copy sheet is stopped by a stop 86 in a position located between parts 58 and 59 of a matrix or anvil provided with holes into which punches 60 to 65 can be advanced, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. Stop 68 stops a copy sheet 39 in a first position in which punches 64 and 60 are Operated to punch holes into copy sheet 39. When stop 68 is retracted, copy sheet 39 is transported until stopped by another stop 70 in which punches 61, 62, 63 and 65 are operated, as will be explained hereinafter. Stops 68 and 70 are respectively mounted on a pair of levers which are both turnable about a shaft 69. Electromagnetic means 96 and 97 are respectively connected to the stop levers 68 and 70 for moving the samebetween operative stop positions located in the gap between members 58 and 59, and a retracted position in whiohstop lever 70 is shown. The operative stop position of stop lever 70 is shown in broken lines.

The control of stop levers 68 and 70 by electromagnetic means 96 and 97 is also clearly shown in the lower portion of FIG. 11.

The first punching means 60 and 64, and the second punching means 61, 62, 63 and 65 are independently operated. As shown for one punching means 63, each punching means has a flange 67 on which a spring 66 abuts to urge the punching means into an inoperative position in which its lower end is located above the gap between members 58 and 59. A presser lever 105 is turnably mounted on each punch means and urged by spring 106 to turn in counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3 to the illustrated inoperative position.

A link 104 connects presser lever 105 with the armature 103 of an electromagnetic means 102 so that upon energization of electromagnetic means 102, presser lever 105 is turned in clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3 to a position in which its head is located below a hammer member 108 which is turnable about a shaft 111. A punch actuator 110 is connected by a pivot 112 to a portion 107 of hammer member 108, and is mounted on an eccentric shaft 109 so that upon rotation of shaft 109, hammer member 108 is angularly re-ciprocated about shaft 111, and engages presser lever 105 when the same is in its operative position so that the punch 63 is advanced and punches the copy sheet 39. A corresponding arrangement is provided for punches 60 and 64. The respective eccentric shafts 109 .are driven through electromagnetic coupling means 71 which has a projection 72, and by electromagnetic coupling means 74 which has a projection 75. The driven half of each coupling is connected to the respective shaft 109 for rotation, while the drive part of each coupling is secured to shaft 73 and 76, respectively carrying chain wheels 77, 78 which are driven by chain wheel 81. A gear 82 secured to chain wheel 81 meshes with gear of printing member 1 so that the punch actuator 110 of each group of punches is operated when the respective electromagnetic coupling 71 or 74 is energized. A chain wheel 79 guides chain 80. Electromagnetic couplings 71 and 74 are also illustrated in FIG. 11.

After each copy sheet has been punched, as will be explained hereinafter in greater detail, it is transported by conveyor 56 to a delivery plate 83 which has a stop 84 for stopping the copy sheet. Delivery plate 83 has a shaft 85 which is mounted for turning movement in the machine frame 4 and which is connected by a chain wheel 87, a chain 88, and a chain wheel 89 to a friction drive 90 driven by the motor of the machine. Delivery plate 83 is turned 180 in counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 for depositing a copy sheet on the conveyor 91 which transports the copy sheet to the front of the machine where the printed and punched copy sheet is deposited in the receptacle 92.

Delivery plate 83 is continuously urged to turn in counterclockwise direction, but such turning movement is normally blocked by a latch 101 engaging a corresponding notch in a blocking wheel 86 secured to shaft 85. When electromagnetic means 100 is energized, latch 10 1 is withdrawn, and the delivery plate performs an angular movement to deposit the copy sheet on conveyor 91.

FIG. 11 illustrates the electric circuit of the above described devices of the machine. A control arm 53 rotates in synchronism with printing member 1, and operates a punch control switch 54. The position of control arm 53 is selected so that the stationary punch control switch 54 is operated shortly before printing member 1 arrives in its initial position after the printing of the copy sheet has been completed. One pole of switch 54 is connected to a source of voltage, and also to switches 94 and 95 which, respectively, have switch arms operated by the projections 75 and 72 of electromagnetic coupling means 74 and 71 controlling, respectively, punches 61, 62, 63, 65, and punches 60, 64, respectively. The same pole of switch 54 is also connected to switches 94a and 95a having switch arms operated by projections 72 and 74 shortly before the operation of the switch arms of switches 94 and 95. The second pole of switches 94 and 95 is connected to the other pole of switch 54, and the second poles of switches 94a and 95a are connected to electromagnetic means 96 and 97 by which stops 68 and 70 are controlled and to a delay switch 99 connected to electromagnetic means 100 by which the delivery plate 83 is controlled. The other terminal of the source of voltage is connected to electromagnetic means 100, 96, 97 and also to the electromagnetic couplings 71 and 74. Switches 94 and 95 are also connected to the electromagnetic coupling means 71 and 74. When switch 54 is closed by control arm 53 the electromagnetic coupling 71 is energized and projection 72 is rotated in counter-clockwise direction so' that the switch arm of switch 94 is released, and switch 94 closes whereby electromagnetic coupling 71 is energized until switch 94 is again opened by projection 72 whereupon the coupling stops together with the shaft 109 controlled thereby. During this revolution of the coupling 71, punches and 64 are operated.

During the turning of coupling 71, projection 72 closes switch 94a so that electromagnetic means 96 retracts stop 68 permitting copy sheet 39 to be moved by conveyor 56 until abutting on the second stop 70.

Closing of switch 94a energizes coupling means 74 so that the respective shaft (109 is rotated and punches 61, 62, 63 and are operated while the copy sheet is held by stop in the desired position. Projection 75 permits closing of switch 95, and the coupling 74 stops when projection 75 again engages the switch arm of switch and opens the same. Shortly before that occurs, projection 75 engages the switch arm of switch 95a and closes the same so that electromagnetic means 97 is energized and stop 70 withdrawn to an inoperative position permitting the conveyor 56 to transport the copy sheet until the same is stopped by stop 84 of delivery plate 83.

At the same time, delay switch 96 is energized by switch 95a and after a short delay, electromagnetic means 100 is energized and withdraws latch 101 permitting the friction drive of shaft 85 to turn delivery plate 180 whereby the copy sheet is delivered to the conveyor 91.

As shown in FIG. 7, shaft 3, which also carries control arm 53, drives two synchronizing control members and 24 in clockwise direction. However, control member 24 can be turned in opposite direction through steps corresponding to the spacing of the lines of the printing form. Control member 120 has a projection 121 for operating a switch 122 which is connected to each of a series of storage relays 151 to 155. A photoelectric sensing means 6 includes a plurality of sensing elements 157 to 161 respectively connected with storage relays 151 to 155. Storage relay 151 is also connected to a photoelectric impulse generator 156 controlled by control member 120, while storage relays 152 to 155 are connected to a photoelectric impulse generator 156a controlled by synchronizing control member 24. As best seen in FIG. 8, control member 120 has five slots in the periphery thereof cooperating with photoelectric impulse generator 156.

Two additional storage relays 162 and 163 are operated by manually controlled keyboards 123 and 124 which have keys respectively related to the digits, and a clearing key indicated by an asterisk.

The inner construction of each storage relay 151 to is shown in FIG. 9. Each storage relay includes five electromagnetic means 164 to 168 corresponding to electromagnetic means 102 described with reference to FIG. 3 and controlling the punches.

Amplifiers 172 to 176 are respectively connected to punch control magnets 164 to 168, and also connected to a decoding translator 171 responsive to a code employing five code elements E, 1, 2, 4, 7 of which all digits can be formed. For example, the digit 5 is represented by the code elements 1 and 4 whose sum is 5. The device shown in FIG. 9 is assumed to be the storage relay 1511, and the sensing element 157 is connected to a gate so that a signal produced by sensing element 157 is supplied to decoding translater 171. The photoelectric impulse generator 156 which cooperates with control member 120, as explained with reference to FIG. 7 is connected to a counter 169 which is connected to gate 170. Switch 122 operated by projection 121 of control member 120 is connected to counter 169, and also to all amplifiers 172 to 176.

The circuit of storage relays 1152 to 155 corresponds to the circuit illustrated in FIG. 9, but photoelectric impulse generator 156a is connected to counter 169, and sensing elements 158 to 161 are respectively connected to gate 170.

FIG. 10 illustrates the inner construction of the manually controlled storage relay 162 which also corresponds to the construction of storage relay 163.

The manually controlled storage relays 162, 163 include a series of punch control magnets of which two are indicated by reference numerals 177 and 178. These control magnets are associated with the code elements 4 and E.

Amplifiers are connected to the punch control magnets, two of the amplifiers being indicated by reference numerals 181 and 182.

Four decoupling diodes are connected to each amplifier, the diodes connected to amplifiers 181 and 182 being respectively indicated by reference numerals 17 9 and 180.

In accordance with the code, the several diodes are connected to switches operated by keys 123 including a key 183 associated with the digit four, and a clearing key 184.

All amplifiers are connected to the switch of the clearing key 184.

It will be seen that the amplifier and punch control magnets correlated with the code element 1 are connected by diodes to the switches of keys associated with the digits 1, 3, 5 and 8. The code element 1 is required for each of these digits, since code elements are provided for representing the digits 2, 4 and 7, and a digit 9 is formed of the code elements 7 and 2. The digit 0 is represented by code elements 7 and 4. The code element E represents entry and corresponding diodes are connected to the switches of the keys representing the digits 1, 2, 4, 7 corresponding to the code elements.

FIG. 4 shows a printing form 2 having a left part performing the function of a conventional printing form and having actually mirror script thereon, While the right part contains symbols, such as horizontal bars, representing in the above explained code the same information as represented by the text in the left part of the printing form. For example, corresponding columns are provided for time which is the time required for performing one of the four operations. The time for milling is 8 units, as shown in column 134, and in the corresponding time column 135, two bars appear in the line associated with milling in position representing the code elements 7 and 1. The code elements can be easily identified since they are printed along the column as indicated by reference numeral 136. The bar symbols of the code are advantageously provided on the typewriter by which the text of the printing form is type, and the corresponding type bars may be individually actuated, or simultaneously with the corresponding digit. The part number 5 appearing in the area 131 of the legible text is indicated in the corresponding column of the second part of the printing form by two bars 113 in positions corresponding to code elements 4 and 1 as indicated at 136.

In each line of the right hand part of printing form 2, coded symbols are entered corresponding to the numbers appearing in the text part. For example, cost number 3, reference numeral 132, is represented by two bars in the corresponding column as indicated by reference numeral 133. The time required for preparation indicated to be 9 by reference numeral 137 is represented by two code elements 139 at the same level as the printed code elements 7 and 2 indicated by reference numeral 136. Number 4 of the wage group indicated by reference numeral 138 is represented by code elements 140 in the corresponding column of the right hand part of the printing form.

It will be seen that the first part of the printing form has printable faces representing information, and that the second part of the printing form has symbols representing the same information in accordance with a code.

The coded information in the right hand part of the printing form is sensed by sensing means 6, the sensing elements 157 to 161 being respectively correlated with the five columns of the coded part of the printing form.

For control purposes, a copy sheet 114 may be imprinted with all the information contained in the left part of the printing form 2, which can be made under the control of cam 16. An additional first line 141 is provided on the copy sheet 114, and is imprinted by the number wheels 115 of the stamping device provided in a recess of the printing member 1, as explained with reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 shows a copy sheet 39 in the form of a punched card. Only one line referring to the milling operation has been printed by a cam 17 in addition to the head portion 116 which was printed by cam 13. Above the head portion printed from the printing form 2, a line printed by stamping wheels 115 appears as explained with reference to FIG. 5. The card is provided with two marginal areas divided into columns in the manner of the printing form, each column containing five fields representively associated with the five code elements E, 1, 2, 4, 7. Furthermore, two narrow spaces 145 and 145a extending in the direction of the lines are provided. The upper marginal area is shown to be punched so that the card can be processed in a card sorting machine. The spaces 145 and 145a can also be punched in accordance with the code to represent numbers which are needed for later calculations, such as addition and multiplication required for computing total costs.

The sample card ShOWn in FIG. 6 is punched as follows:

Part number 5, reference numeral 131, is punched in field 142 by cutting out notches related to code elements 1 and 4, and this is accomplished under the control of the symbol in column 113 of the printing form shown in FIG. 4. The two bars of the symbol are placed in column positions associated with the code elements 1 and 4, and are sensed by sensing means 6 which control the punches to punch the notches in the area 142, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

The cost number 3 appearing in print in the area 132 is punched into area 143 by cutting out corresponding code elements 1 and 2 corresponding to the symbol in the column 133 of printing form 4. Wage group number 4, printed in area 138 is punched into area 144 under the control of the symbol in the corresponding column of the printing form. Order number 6, which was printed in area 148 by the stamping wheels 115 and consequently does not appear on the printing form, is punched under manual control in the area 149, the two code elements 2 and 4 representing the digit 6 of the order number.

The punched holes in area are used for automatic calculations, and the number of pieces is represented by two punched holes in the area 147. Since the piece number is 7, it is represented by a punched hole in the position corresponding to code element 7, and an additional hole in the region of the code element E is provided as a second code element, since all representations in this code require two holes in two positions out of five possible positions. The time required for carrying out the operation is indicated 8 in area 134, and is indicated by punched holes in the area 150 by an automatic operation derived from the symbol 135 as shown in FIG. 4. The time required for preparation of the machine is indicated to be 9 in the area 137, and is punched in area 156a under the control of the symbol 139 shown in the corresponding column in FIG. 4. When the card is supplied to a suitable punch card controlled accounting machine, the holes in areas 147, 150, 150a are sensed, the

time required for the operation multiplied by the number of pieces, and the time required for preparation of the machine is added so that the total time required for performing milling operations on seven workpieces can be automatically calculated, and multiplied with the cost per hour for accounting purposes.

OPERATION A printing form as shown in FIG. 4 is prepared on a typewriter by typing regular characters in the left part of the printing form, and two-bar symbols in the right hand part of the printing form, the typewriter being provided with suitable type faces having bars in staggered positions corresponding to the positions of the code elements shown at 136 in FIG. 4.

The printing form is inserted into holding means 5 n the printing member 1 and placed on the periphery thereof in a position in which the left part of the printing form is circumferentially aligned with the counterpressure roller 8, while the right part of the printing form is circumferentially aligned with the sensing means 6, as best seen in FIG. 7. The five sensing elements 157 to 161 are respectively aligned with the five columns of the right part of the printing form and adapted to sense the symbols in the same. For example, the sensing element 157 will sense the two bars 113 which represent the part number 5 appearing as a printable face in area 131 of FIG. 4. When sensing the two bars, two command signals will be received by the storage relay 151 which is shown in detail in FIG. 9.

Rotation of printing member 1 is started so that cams 13 to 17, and also synchronizing control members 120 and 24, see FIG. 7, start to rotate. Projection 121 of control member 120 closes switch 122 so that the storage relays 151 to 155 of the punching device 57 and the correlated sensing means 6 are cleared.

Control member 120 has five synchronizing slots 125, best seen in FIG. 8, which now pass through the photoelectric impulse generator 156 while at the same time the symbols 113 of the first line and first column of the printing form 2 are sensed by sensing element 157 and are entered into storage relay 151 to control the later punching operation.

Control member 24, which can be angularly adjusted between different positions, has slots producing impulses in the photoelectric impulse generator 156a which are supplied to storage relays 152 to 155. Impulse generators 156 and 156a include a source of light producing a beam of light received by a photocell when a synchronizing slot passes the beam of light.

At the same time, the first line of the left part of the printing form passes through the printing plane AB, and the dwell on cam 13 effects the printing of the head portion through the lever system 29, 30, 34, 36, 35 which causes movement of counterpressure roller 8 to the operative printing position.

While the impulse from the impulse generator 156a prepares the storage relays 152 to 155, the storage relays 152 to 155 are controlled by the impulse generator to operate in synchronism with the turning movement of the printing form so that the symbols are sensed only in the respective line of the right hand part of the printing form 2. The keyboards 123 and 124 may be operated to enter additional values into the storage relays 162, 163.

The operation of a storage relay will be best understood with FIG. 9. When the part number 5, reference numerals 131 and 113 in FIG. 4, is to be indicated on the copy sheet or card 39 shown in FIG. 6 by punched notches in the area 142, punch control magnets 164 to 168 are already cleared by operation of switch 122. A first impulse or signal is produced by impulse genera-tor 156 which is passed by a slot 125 of control member 120. The gate 170 and the output of decoding translator 171 associated with the code element 7 are prepared since code element 7 is the uppermost in the sequence shown at 136 in FIG. 4. However, since sensing element 157 does not sense a bar in this position of the printing form, punch control magnet 168 is not energized.

When the next following slot of control member passes impulse generator 156, a signal passes through counter 169 and gate 170 and prepares the output of decoding translator 171 associated with the code element 4. At the same time, the first bar of the symbol 113 is sensed by sensing element 157 and an impulse passes through gate 17 0 and the output 4 of decoding translator 171 to amplifier 175 which causes energization of control magnet 167. As printing member 1 and control member 120 turn to the next position, no impulse is produced by the sensing means since there is no bar in the position associated with the code element 4 on the printing form.

The bar in the position of code element 1 causes an impulse to pass through the outlet of the decoding translator 171 associated with code element 1 so that control magnet 165 is energized. When control member 120 produces the fifth signal of the impulse generator 156, no impulse is produced since sensing element 157 cannot sense a bar in the position associated with the code element E on printing form 2.

Further impulses cannot appear at the outputs of the decoding translator 171, even if sensing element 157 would sense further symbols in the following lines, since impulse generator 156 does not supply a signal to the counter 169.

If one of the devices 162, 163, best seen in FIG. 10, is used for manually entering a number, as shown for the digit 4 in FIG. 10, the magnets 177, 178 are connected to the source of voltage and energized. When key 183 is actuated, an impulse passes through diode 179 to amplifier 181 and energizes control magnet 177, and another impulse passes through diode and amplifier 182 to energize control magnet 178. The device can be cleared by operation of key 184.

Referring now to FIG. 11, when printing member 1 starts to rotate in the direction of the arrow, copy sheet 39 supplied to the printing plane AB by transporting rollers 41, 40 is first printed and then moved by a conveyor 56, see FIG. 2, to a position stopped by stop lever 68 in which it is located under five punches 60 to 64. Shortly before printing member 1 has completed one revolution in clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 11, control arm 53 closes switch 54 so that electromagnetic coupling means 71, which is associated with punches 60 and 64 is engaged, and projection 72 starts to rotate in counterclockwise direction turning the eccentric shaft 109 shown in FIG. 3 so that hammer member 107, 108 is angularly oscillated. Since punch control magnets 165, and 167, see FIG. 9, are held in energized condition, the respective pressure levers 105 are in a position located under hammer member 107, 108, and are engaged by the same during its oscillation so that the respective punches of the row of punches 64, see FIG. 2, are advanced to punch the area 142 in the first line of card 39 as shown in FIG. 6. The row of punches 60 is provided for punching the last line of card 39. In FIG. 3, a punch 63 is shown and all punch control magnets 164-168 are generally indicated by the reference numeral 102, and it will be understood that all punches are operated by a mechanism corresponding to FIG. 3.

The rotating projection 72 closes switch 94a so that electromagnetic means 96 is energized and pulls stop 68 down, permitting conveyor 56 to move card 39 until engaging stop 70. Shortly thereafter, projection 72 again engages switch 94 and opens the same so that electromagnetic coupling 71 is disconnected from the source of voltage and stops.

When switch 94a closes, electromagnetic coupling 74 is energized and projection 75 starts its rotation causing oscillation of a corresponding hammer member 107, 108 so that any punch whose presser lever 105 was pulled to an operative position by a corresponding punch control magnet, indicated 102 in FIG. 3, is actuated to punch a hole into card 39. Electromagnetic coupling 71 with projection 72 controls the two rows of punches 60 and 64, in the first position of the card and electromagnet coupling means 74 with projection 75 controls four rows of punches 61, 62, 63, and 65 in the second position of the card.

When the card is punched in the second advanced position abutting stop 70, projection 75 closes switch 95a so that electromagnetic means 97 is energized and pulls stop 70 an inoperative position, permitting conveyor 56 to advance the card to the delivery plate 83. Delay switch 99 was energized by switch 95a and now causes energization of electromagnetic means 100 which withdraws latch 101 permitting the friction drive of shaft 85 to turn delivery plate 83 in counterclockwise direction so that the punched card is deposited on conveyor 91 which transports it to the receptacle 92 at the front of the machine near the operator.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of printing machines differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a machine for printing and punching a card in a continuous operation under the control of a printing form, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A printing and recording machine comprising, in combination, printing means including a rotary printing member having holding means for detachably holding printing form means including a first printing part with printable characters representing information and a second part with symbols representing the same information, said printing member being operable to move said printing form means to a position in which said first part is adapted to engage a copy sheet for producing legible imprints thereon, said printing means including counterpressure means and having a printing position in which said copy sheet is pressed in a printing line into printing contact with said printing member at a printing station, and an inoperative position; control means operating in synchronism with said printing member for moving said printing means to said printing position when at least one selected section of the printing form means moves through said printing line; sensing means including a part in the region of said second part of said printing form means and adapted to sense said symbols on said second part, said sensing means producing command impulses when sensing said symbols; and recording means receiving said copy sheet from said printing means after passage through said printing line and being operatively connected with said sensing means and controlled by said impulses to record on said copy sheet recordings representing the same information as said legible imprints.

2. A printing and punching machine comprising, in combination, printing means including a rotary printing member having holding means for detachably holding printing form means including a first printing part with printable characters representing information and a second part with symbols representing the same information, said printing member being operable to move said printing form means to a position in which said first part is adapted to engage a copy sheet for producing legible imprints thereon, said printing means including counterpressure means and having a printing position in which said copy sheet is pressed in a printing line into printing contact with said printing member at a printing station, and an inoperative position; control means operating in synchronism with said printing member for moving said printing means to said printing position when at least one selected section of the printing form means moves through said printing line; sensing means including a part in the region of said second part of said printing form means and adapted to sense said symbols on said second part, said sensing means producing command impulses when sensing said symbols; and punching means receiving said copy sheet from said printing means after passage through said printing line and being operatively connected with said sensing means and controlled by said impulses to punch into said copy sheet cutouts representing the same information as said legible imprints.

3. A printing and punching machine comprising, in combination, printing means including a rotary printing member having holding means for detachably holding printing form means including a first printing part with printable characters representing information and a second part with coded symbols composed of code elements selected from a series of code elements representing the same information, said printing member being operable to move said printing form means to a position in which said first part is adapted to engage a copy sheet for producing legible imprints thereon, said printing means including counterpressure means and having a printing position in which said copy sheet is pressed in a printing line into printing contact with said printing member at a printing station, and an inoperative position; control means operating in synchronism with said printing member for moving said printing means to said printing position when at least one selected section of the printing form means moves through said printing line; sensing means including a part in the region of said second part of said printing form means and adapted to sense said symbols on said second part, said sensing means producing command impulses when sensing said symbols; and punching means receiving said copy sheet from said printing means after passage through the printing line, and including a series of punches correlated with said series of code elements, respectively, and operatively connected with said sensing means and controlled by said impulses to punch into said copy sheet cutouts representing the same information as said legible imprints.

4. A printing and punching machine comprising, in combination, printing means including a rotary printing member having holding means for detachably holding printing form means including a first printing part with printable characters representing information and a second part with symbols representing the same information, said printing member being operable to move said printing form means; means for transporting a copy sheet into the region of said printing member and of said first part of said printing form means so that said first part engages a copy sheet for producing legible imprints thereon, said printing means including counterpressure means and having a printing position in which said copy sheet is pressed in a printing line into printing contact with said printing member at a printing station, and an inoperative position; control means operating in synchronism with said printing member for moving said printing means to said printing position when at least one selected section of the printing form means moves through said printing line; sensing means including a part in the region of said second part of said printing form means and adapted to sense said symbols on said second part, said sensing means producing command impulses when sensing said symbols; and punching means receiving said copy sheet from said printing means after passage through said printing line and being operatively connected with said sensing means and controlled by said impulses to punch into said copy sheet cutouts representing the same information as said legible imprints, said transporting means transporting the printed copy sheet to said punching means so that said cutouts are punched into the imprinted copy sheets.

5. A printing and punching machine comprising, in combination, printing means including a rotary printing member having holding means for detachably holding printing form means including a first printing part with printable characters representing information and a second part with symbols representing the same information, said printing member being operable to move said printing form means; means for transporting a copy sheet into the region of said printing member and of said first part of said printing form means so that said first part engages a copy sheet for producing legible imprints thereon, said printing means including counterpressure means and having a printing position in which said copy sheet is pressed in a printing line into printing contact with said printing member at a printing station, and an inoperative position; control means operating in synchronism with said printing member for moving said printing means to said printing position when at least one selected section of the printing form means moves through said printing line; sensing means including a part in the region of said second part of said printing form means and adapted to sense said symbols on said second part, said sensing means producing command impulses when sensing said symbols; storage means for storing said command impulses; and punching means receiving said copy sheet from said printing means after passage through said printing line and being operatively connected with said storage means and controlled by the same to punch into said copy sheet cutouts representing the same information as said legible imprints, said transporting means transporting the printed copy sheet to said punching means so that said cutouts are punched into the imprinted copy sheets.

6. A printing and punching machine comprising, in combination, printing means including a movable printing member having holding means for detachably holding printing form means including a first printing part with printable characters representing information and a second part with symbols representing the same information, said printing member being operable to move said printing form means; means for transporting a copy sheet into the region of said printing member and of said first part of said printing form means so that said first part engages a copy sheet for producing legible imprints thereon at a printing station; sensing means including a part positioned in the region of said second part of said printing form means and adapted to sense said symbols on said second part, said sensing means producing command impulses when sensing said symbols; storage means for storing said command impulses; synchronizing control means moving in synchronism with said printing member and being connected to said storage means and controlling the same to operate in synchronism with the movement of said printing member and of said printing form means; and punching means receiving said copy sheet from said printing means after passage through said printing line and being operatively connected with said storage means and controlled by the same to punch into said copy sheet cut outs representing the same information as said legible imprints, said transporting means transporting the printed copy sheet to said punching means so that said cutouts are punched into the imprinted copy sheets.

7. A printing and punching machine comprising, in combination, printing means including a movable printing member having holding means for detachably holding printing form means including a first printing part with printable characters representing information and a second part with symbols representing the same information, said printing member being operable to move said printing form means; means for transporting a copy sheet into the region of said printing member and of said first part of said printing form means so that said first part engages a copy sheet for producing legible imprints thereon at a printing station; sensing means including a part positioned in the region of said second part of said printing form means and adapted to sense said symbols on said second part, said sensing means producing command impulses when sensing said symbols; punching means receiving said copy sheet from said printing means after passage through said printing line and being operatively connected with said sensing means and controlled by said impulses to punch into said copy sheet cutouts representing the same information as said legible imprints, said transporting means transporting the printed copy sheet to said punching means so that said cutouts are punched into the imprinted copy sheets; and stop means connected to and operated in synchronism with said printing member for stopping the copy sheet at said punching means until punched, and for releasing the punched copy sheet for further transport by said transporting means.

8. A printing and punching machine comprising, in combination, a rotary printing drum having holding means for detachably holding a printing form means including a first printing part with printable characters representing information and a second part with symbols representing the same information; a counterpressure roller cooperating with said printing drum and being movable between an inoperative position and a printing position; means for supplying copy sheets to said printing drum and counterpressure roller; means rotating in synchronism with said printing drum and operatively connected to said counterpressure roller for moving the same between said inoperative and printing positions so that at least one selected section of said first printing part is printed on a copy sheet at a printing station; sensing means including a part positioned in the proximity of said printing drum in the region of said second part of said printing form and adapted to sense said symbols on said second part, said sensing means producing command impulses when sensing said symbols; a punching device receiving said copy sheet from said printing means after passage through the printing line, and including a plurality of punches, a punch control magnet for each punch, and punch actuator means for operating punches whose punch control magnet is energized; and means for energizing selected punch control magnets and operatively connected with said sensing means to receive command impulses from the same so that said punch control magnets are selectively energized in accordance with the positions of said symbols on said second part on said printing form means.

9. A printing and punching machine comprising, in combination, a rotary printing drum having holding means for detachably holding a printing form means including a first printing part with printable characters representing information and a second part with symbols representing the same information; a counterpressure roller cooperating with said printing drum and being movable between an inoperative position and a printing position; means for supplying copy sheets to said printing drum and counterpressure roller; means rotating in synchronisrn with said printing drum and operatively con nected to said counterpressure roller for moving the same between said inoperative and printing positions so that at least one selected section of said first printing part is printed on a copy sheet; sensing means positioned in the proximity of said printing drum in the region of said second part of said printing form and adapted to sense said symbols on said second part, said sensing means producing command impulses when sensing said symbols, said sensing means including a plurality of sensing elements located adjacent each other in axial direction of said printing drum and adapted to sense symbols in adjacent circumferential columns of said second part; a punching device including a plurality of punches, a punch control magnet for each punch, and punch actuator means for operating punches whose punch control magnet is energized; and means for energizing selected punch control magnets and operatively connected with said sensing means to receive command impulses from the same so that said punch control magnets are selectively energized in accordance with the positions of said symbols on said second part on said printing form means, said last mentioned means including a plurality of storage means respectively connected with said sensing elements, each storage means including a counter, and a gate connected with said punch control magnets, a synchronizing control member having synchronizing slots and rotating in synchronism with said printing drum; photoelectric impulse generator means for sensing said slots and producing signals supplied to said counters, said impulses of said sensing means being supplied to said gate.

10. A printing and punching machine comprising, in

combination, a rotary printing drum having holding means for detachably holding a printing form means including a first printing part with printable characters representing information and a second part with symbols representing the same information, each symbol including a plurality of code elements; a counterpressure roller cooperating with said printing drum and being movable between an inoperative position and a printing position; means for supplying copy sheets to said printing drum and counterpressure roller so that said first printing part is printed on a copy sheet; sensing means positioned in the proximity of said printing drum in the region of said second part of said printing form and adapted to sense said symbols on said second part, said sensing means producing command impulses when successively sensing said code elements of said symbols, said sensing means including a plurality of sensing elements located adjacent each other in axial direction of said printing drum and adapted to sense code elements of symbols in adjacent circumferential columns of said second part; a punching device including a plurality of punches respectively associated with said code elements and being correspondingly positioned, a punch control magnet for each punch, and punch actuator means for operating punches whose punch control magnet is energized; and means for energizing selected punch control magnets and operatively connected with said sensing means to receive command impulses from the same so that said punch control magnets are selectively energized in accordance with the positions of code elements of said symbols on said second part on said printing form means, said last mentioned means including a plurality of storage means respectively connected with said sensing elements, each storage means including a counter, and a gate connected with said punch control magnets, a synchronizing control member having synchronizing slots and rotating in synchronism with said printing drum; photoelectric impulse generator means for sensing said slots and producing signals supplied to said counters, said impulses of said sensing means being supplied to said gate.

11. A printing and punching machine comprising, in combination, a rotary printing drum having holding means for detachably holding a printing form means including a first printing part with printable characters representing information and a second part with symbols representing the same information, each symbol including a plurality of code elements; a counterpressure roller cooperating with said printing drum and being movable between an inoperative position and a printing position; means for supplying copy sheets to said printing drum and counterpressure roller so that said first printing part is printed on a copy sheet; sensing means positioned in the proximity of said printing drum in the region of said second part of said printing form and adapted to sense said symbols on said second part, said sensing means producing command impul es WhQ l .Successively sensing said code elements of said symbols, said sensing means including a plurality of sensing elements located adjacent each other in axial direction of said printing drum and adapted to sense code elements of symbols in adjacent circumferential columns of said second part; a punching device including a plurality of punches respectively associated with said code elements and being correspondingly positioned, a punch control magnet for each punch, and punch actuator means for operating punches whose punch control magnet is energized; and means for energizing selected punch control magnets and operatively connected with said sensing means to receive command impulses from the same, said last mentioned means including synchronizing control means rotating in synchronism with said printing drum, impulse generator means cooperating with said synchronizing control means to produce signals in synchronism with the movement of said code elements of said symbols with said printing drum, and a plurality of decoding translator means controlled by said impulses and signals and respectively connected to said punch control magnets so that said punch control magnets are selectively energized in accordance with the positions of code elements of said symbols on said second part on said printing form means, said last mentioned means including a plurality of storage means respectively connected with said sensing elements, each storage means including a counter, and a gate connected with said punch control magnets, a synchronizing control member having synchronizing slots and rotating in synchronism with said printing drum; photoelectric impulse generator means for sensing said slots and producing signals supplied to said counters, said impulses of said sensing means being supplied to said gate.

12. A machine as set forth in claim 11 wherein said punching device includes two groups of punches, and two punch actuators for operating the punches of said groups, respectively, means for successively operating said punch actuators during rotation of said printing drum, and two stop means for holding each copy sheet in two successive positions transported by said transporting means for being punched by said groups of punches, respectively.

13. A printing and punching machine as set forth in claim 12 wherein each of said punch actuators includes an electromagnetic coupling having one coupling half driven from said printing drum, and another coupling half having a projection, and switch means operated by said projection and connected to said stop means for operating the same in synchronism with the rotation of said printing drum.

14. A printing and punching machine as set forth in claim 13 and including a conveyor; a delivery plate receiving punched copy sheets from said transporting means, and being turnable for depositing copy sheets on said conveyor; means urging said delivery plate to turn; means locking said delivery plate; electromagnetic means for releasing said locking means; and a circuit with a switch connected with said electromagnetic means and operated by said projection so that the copy sheets are deposited on said conveyor shortly before the end of one revolution of said printing drum.

15. A printing and punching machine as set forth in claim 16 and including manually operated means for energizing said punch control magnets.

16. A printing and punching machine as set forth in claim 15, wherein said manually operated means comprise a plurality of key operated switches respectively associated with digits, and a plurality of groups of diodes connected to represent each digit by code elements, and an amplifier connected to each group of diodes and to each punch control magnet.

17. A printing and punching machine comprising, in combination, a rotary printing drum having holding means for detachably holding a printing form means including a first printing part with printable characters representing information and a second part with symbols 51 7 representing the same information; a counterpressure roller cooperating With said printing drum and being movable between an inoperative position and a printing position; means for supplying copy sheets to said printing drum and counterpressure roller so that said first printing part is printed on a copy sheet at a printing station; sensing means including a part positioned in the proximity of said printing drum in the region of said second part of said printing form and adapted to sense said symbols on said second part, said sensing means producing command impulses when sensing said symbols; and punching means receiving said copy sheet from said printing means after passage through said printing line and being operatively connected With said sensing means and controlled by said impulses to punch into said copy sheet cutouts representing the same information as said legible imprints.

18. A printing and punching machine comprising, in combination, a rotary printing drum having holding means for detachably holding a printing form means including a first printing part with printable characters representing information and a second part with syrnbols representing the same information, each symbol including a plurality of code elements; a counterpressure roller cooperating with said printing drum and being movable between an inoperative position and a printing position; means for supplying copy sheets to said printing drum and counterpressure roller so that said first printing part is printed on a copy sheet at a printing station; sensing means adapted to sense said symbols on said second part, said sensing means producing command impulses when successively sensing said code elements of said symbols, said sensing means including a plurality of sensing elements located adjacent each other in axial direction of said printing drum and adapted to sense code elements of symbols in adjacent circumferential columns of said second part; and a punching device receiving said copy sheet from said printing means after passage through the printing line, and including a plurality of punches respectively associated with said code elements and being corresponding positioned, a punch control magnet for each punch, and a punch actuator driven from said printing drum, said punch control magnets being respectively operatively connected with said sensing means and controlled by said impulses to be energized to connect the respective punch with said punch actuator so that the punch punches into said copy sheet cutouts representing the same information as said legible imprints.

19. A printing and punching machine as set forth in claim 18 and including cam rotating in synchronism, with said printing drum and operatively connected to said counterpressure roller for moving the same between said inoperative and printing positions so that selected sections of said first printing part are printed on a copy sheet; and means for preventing operation of said punches when said sensing means sense symbols associated with non-selected sections of said first printing part of said printing form means.

20. A printing and punching machine as set forth in claim 11 wherein said synchronizing control means includes two control members connected with said printing drum for synchronous rotation, each of said control members having slots, said impulse generator means cooperating with each of said control members to produce separate signals supplied to different ones of said coding translator means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,909,548 5/1933 Pierce 10119 2,002,437 5/1935 Maul 10119 X 2,265,222 12/1941 Benes 101-19 2,664,815 1/1954 Schuessler 10119 2,909,221 10/1959 Hopp 10119 2,953,087 9/1960 Ritzerfeld et a1. 101132.5 3,013,486 12/1961 Ritzerfeld et al. 101--132.5 3,083,637 4/1963 Ritzerfeld et a1. 101-1325 WILLIAM B. PENN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PRINTING AND RECORDING MACHINE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, PRINTING MEANS INCLUDING A ROTARY PRINTING MEMBER HAVING HOLDING MEANS FOR DETACHABLY HOLDING PRINTING FORM MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST PRINTING PART WITH PRINTABLE CHARACTERS REPRESENTING INFORMATION AND A SECOND PART WITH SYMBOLS REPRESENTING THE SAME INFORMATION, SAID PRINGINT MEMBER BEING OPERABLE TO MOVE SAID PRINTING FORM MEANS TO A POSITION IN WHICH SAID FIRST PART IS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A COPY SHEET FOR PRODUCING LEGIBLE IMPRINTS THEREON, SAID PRINTING MEANS INCLUDING COUNTERPRESSURE MEANS AND HAVING A PRINTING POSITION IN WHICH SAID COPY SHEET IS PRESSED IN A PRINTING LINE INTO PRINTING CONTACT WITH SAID PRINTING MEMBER A PRINTING STATION, AND AN INOPERATIVE POSITION; CONTROL MEANS OPERATING IN SYNCHRONISM WITH SAID PRINTING MEMBER FOR MOVING SAID PRINTING MEANS TO SAID PRINTING POSITION WHEN AT LEAST ONE SELECTED SECTION TO THE PRINTING FORM MEANS MOVES THROUGH SAID PRINTING LINE; SENSING MEANS INCLUDING A PART IN THE REGION OF SAID SECOND PART OF SAID PRINTING FORM MEANS AND ADAPTED TO SENSE SAID SYMBOLS ON SAID SECOND PART, SAID SENSING MEANS PRODUCING COMMAND INPULSES WHEN SENSING SAID SYMBOLS; AND RECORDING MEANS RECEIVING SAID COPY SHEET FROM SAID PRINTING MEANS AFTER PASSAGE THROUGH SAID PRINTING LINE AND BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID SENSING MEANS AND CONTROLLED BY SAID INPULSES TO RECORD ON SAID COPY SHEET RECORDINGS REPRESENTING THE SAME INFORMATION AS SAID LEGIBLE IMPRINTS. 